We have four new functions:
And we retain responsibility for our previous functions of delivering:
We are a stand-alone central agency and we report to the Minister for Social Investment Hon Nicola Willis(external link) who sets the priorities for the portfolio and agrees the Agency's work programme.
As a central agency, we are focused on the operation of the system of government agencies, supporting agencies to comply with the Government’s directions (e.g., through standards and guidance), and monitoring delivery against the Government’s work programme and priorities.
We focus our efforts on where we can make the greatest impact to lead and shine a light on policy issues that affect the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
We are a multi-disciplinary team comprising data scientists, business and data analysts, policy thinkers, researchers, evaluators and communicators. We collaborate across the system advising on policy issues that fall between the gaps. Ultimately, we want our approaches to achieve sustainable improvements for the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
We deliver advanced data analytics and insights in a cost-effective way, ensuring that we re-invest in system infrastructure and tools that will benefit the public service in the long term.
We use a broad and inclusive set of measures that tell us whether people are leading full, meaningful lives. We create tools and practices to target gaps in the social sector’s knowledge. We partner with the social sector, combining science, data and lived experience to produce insights and evidence.
Our name Toi Hau Tāngata signifies the valuable aspects of living life – manifesting in the wellbeing of the people. The individual words have many meanings, including: Toi - peak, Hau - vital essence and Tāngata - humankind.
Mohi Apou of Taranaki-Whanganui descent gifted the name to us. Toi Hau Tāngata comes from a karakia unique to Taranaki-Whanganui Iwi, ‘Te Hau Tai Tāngata’ – the principles influencing the creation of mankind. The karakia is not written but passed from one generation to the next as the taonga tuku iho, or oral tradition. Our reo Māori name aligns with our vision that ‘People, whānau and communities live the life to which they aspire’.
